Umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella construction is disclosed having lower links radiating from a lower ferrule mounted on a shaft and upper links radiating from a middle ferrule mounted on the shaft. The upper and lower links support the main ribs of the umbrella. Auxiliary links connect an upper link with an upper ferrule on the top of the shaft. The lower and middle ferrules are adapted for upward and downward sliding movement on the shaft during opening and closing of the umbrella, thus permitting the ribs, links and umbrella cover to be smoothly collapsed and folded when the umbrella is closed.

United States Patent 1 1 Okuda 1 May 15, 1973 [54] UMBRELLA FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 Inventorl Shigekalll Okuda, 307 Minamiue- 785,872 5 1935 France ..135 25 machi, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka, Japan [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 Primary Examiner.l. Karl Bell Appl. No.1 173,968

A ttorney- Lane, Atken, Dunner & Ziens An umbrella construction is disclosed having lower links radiating from a lower ferrule mounted on a shaft and upper links radiating from a middle ferrule mounted on the shaft. The upper and lower links support the main ribs of the umbrella. Auxiliary links connect an upper link with an upper ferrule on the top of the shaft. The lower and middle ferrules are adapted for upward and downward sliding movement on the shaft during opening and closing of the umbrella, thus permitting the ribs, links and umbrella cover to be smoothly collapsed and folded when the umbrella is closed.

ABSTRACT 13 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATH-MOW] 5191s 3,732,879

INVENTOR. SHIGEKAZU OKUDA BY X MMWW A ORNEYS UMBRELLA The present invention relates to improvements in umbrellas. More particularly, this invention relates to umbrellas which have links, ribs, and covers capable of extending when the umbrella is opened and folding or collapsing during closing and when the umbrella is closed. Still more particularly, this invention relates to collapsible umbrellas where the links, ribs, and cover are adapted to fold or collapse during the closing operation of the umbrellas.

Heretofore, umbrellas of the kind disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,467,l 15, to R. Brooks et al., issued Sept. 16, 1969 have been well known. The umbrellas of the kind disclosed in this patent provide a construction which includes main ribs, auxiliary links supporting the main ribs at a point at a predetermined distance from the root portion thereof, an upper ferrule connected by links with the auxiliary links at a point midway between the ends of the latter, and additional links connecting the root portion of the main ribs with the auxiliary links at a point midway between the ends of the latter.

However, umbrellas of the kind mentioned above have disadvantages in that the main ribs are unstable against inadvertent external forces since the main ribs in the open position are not positively supported. In other words, when such umbrellas are subjected to external forces from above or beneath, such as may be caused by wind, the forces are carried through the root portion of the main ribs to the links. The pivotal connections of the links serve as a fulcrum and transmit the forces to other links which, in turn, sway in a direction and in a manner which tends to bend the auxiliary links. Since the auxiliary links are relatively long and such a force is applied on said ribs at the midpoint where the links are connected, the auxiliary links tend to be easily bent. Therefore, even if a substantially small force is applied on the main ribs, the main ribs would tend to be bent upwardly or downwardly. This fact renders it difficult to hold the main ribs in a stable condition unless such auxiliary links are provided with heavyweight, strong construction.

In the umbrellas described above, the main ribs move in predetermined paths according to the upward and downward movements of the lower ferrule which is connected by links with the auxiliary links. Accordingly, holding the lower ferrule in acertain position maintains the main ribs in a certain position corresponding to the position of the lower ferrule. Consequently, the movement of the main ribs depends merely on the upward and downward movements of the lower ferrule, thus providing no additional degree of freedom. Thus, in the event that movement of the main ribs is interrupted by some obstacle upon opening'or closing operating of the umbrella, the main ribs would be subjected to damage due to the accelerated opening or closing movement of the umbrellas, accompanied by the possibility of danger to the user.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages noted in the prior art and to provide umbrellas which are strong and simple in construction thereby insuring safe and smooth opening and closing of the umbrellas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An umbrella according to the present invention is provided, of strong and simple construction, in which the main ribs are supported by upper and lower links respectively radiating from middle and lower ferrules. The ferrules are slidingly mounted on a shaft of the umbrella. The upper links are connected at a point about midway between the ends thereof by auxiliary links with an upper ferrule fixedly mounted on the shaft. When the main ribs are subjected to external forces from above or beneath, such as by wind, the forces will not be concentrated at a specific point on the ribs due to the ribs being supported positively by the upper and lower links when the umbrella is in an open position.

As noted above, the present invention provides an umbrella construction in which the middle ferrule, securing the upper links, is slidingly mounted on a shaft so as to move thereon either upwardly or downwardly. The main ribs are therefore allowed to move within a certain range to provide a force-absorbing effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The sole FIGURE in the drawing is a fragmentary composite view showing the umbrellas construction closed on the left side of the FIGURE and fully opened on the right side of the FIGURE.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An extendable or collapsible shaft, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a lower section lb of the shaft 1 which is telescopically and slidingly arranged on the upper section 1a of the shaft. A handle of a known type (not shown), is fastened to the bottom portion of the lower section lb of the shaft 1. A plurality of radiating lower links 3 are pivotally connected to a lower ferrule 2. The ferrule 2 is rigidly adfixed to a cylindrical tubular body 4a which is slidably mounted on the shaft. The cylindrical tubular body 4a carries a relatively shorter, relatively larger diameter, cylindrical tubular body 5a which slides thereon. A middle ferrule 5 is fixedly mounted on the cylindrical tubular body 5a. The upper edge of the upper cylindrical tubular body 4a is provided with a flared portion 6 serving as a stopping means.

When the umbrella is in the open position (seen in the right portion of the FIGURE) the lower portion of the cylindrical tubular body 5a is free to slide on tubular member 4a between the upper edge of a protruding portion of the lower ferrule 2 which carries the plurality of lower links 3 and the flared portion 6 of the tubular body 4a.

A plurality of radiating upper links 7 are pivotally secured to the ferrule 5 at their roots in substantially the same manner that the lower links 3 are secured to the lower ferrule 2. The tips of the upper links 7 are pivotally connected at eyelets 9 with the root portion of the main ribs 8. The main ribs 8 are pivotally connected at eyelets 10 with the lower links 3 at a point some distance from the root portions of said main ribs. The main ribs 8 of the umbrella are therefore supported positively both by the upper links 7 and by the lower links 3.

A predetermined clearance is provided between the upper links 7 and lower links 3, particularly around the connection of the main ribs with the two links, when they are collapsed as shown in the left portion of the FIGURE. As a result, when the umbrella is folded further than is shown in the FIGURE, the upper links 7 will not interfere with the lower links 3, so that the umbrella can be fully folded while main ribs, upper links and lower links are maintained in a substantially parallel relationship to one another.

The root portions of a plurality of auxiliary links 13 are secured pivotally to an upper ferrule 11, secured at or near the top of the shaft 1. The auxiliary links 13 are connected pivotally with the upper links 7 at eyelets 12 on the upper links. The connecting points between the upper links 7 and the auxiliary links 13 are about midway between the ends of the upper links. The connecting points between auxiliary links 13 and upper links 7 are located to protrude outwardly from the upper links when the umbrella is folded further than is shown in the left portion of the drawing. This location of the connecting points aids in the parallel folding of the umbrella.

As will be noted from the drawing, the middle ferrule is somewhat smaller in outer diameter than the lower ferrule 2. The upper links 7, due to their length and manner of pivotal connection to the smaller diameter middle ferrule 5, are biased toward the shaft 1 when compared with the connection of the lower links 3 to the lower ferrule 2. This biasing, coupled with the outward protrusion of the auxiliary links 13 with respect to the upper links 7, aids in producing a substantially parallel relationship between the upper links 7, the lower links 3, and the ribs 8 when the umbrella is fully folded.

The umbrella ribs and links are so arranged that the connecting points of the main ribs 8 with the upper links 7 are located almost on the same level as the upper ferrule 11 when the umbrella is in the closed position. As a result, the whole length of the ribs and links of the umbrella, when collapsed, becomes the length of the main ribs 8 due to the additional fact that the shaft 1 can be telescopingly compressed up to the length of the main ribs.

The central portion of a fabric cover or canopy 14 (shown in phantom outline in the FIGURE) is received in a cap 15 mounted on the top of the shaft 1 and is interposed between the cap and the upper ferrule l l. The outer periphery of the cover 14 is secured to the tips 8a of the main ribs 8 by stitches. The portions of the cover 14 that are near to the connecting points of the auxiliary links 13 with the upper links 7 are secured to the connecting points by means of threads 16 of a proper length using the eyelets 12 provided at the connecting points.

The length of the threads 16 is such that the threads are compatable with the smooth opening and closing operations of the umbrella and are of a length to support the cover 14 properly when the umbrella is in the open position.

A detent 17 mounted in the upper portion of the shaft la is adapted to engage the lower edge of the cylindrical tubular body 4a on which the lower ferrule 2 is mounted. The detent 17 is spring-biased outwardly and housed in the shaft la in the usual manner.

In use, to open the umbrella, the upper and lower shafts la and lb are pulled in a manner to extend them. The tips 8a of the main ribs 8 are then spread manually 'to an extent to permit the the hand to obtain access to the cylindrical tubular body 4a (with the lower ferrule 2 mounted thereon) so that the lower ferrule may be pushed upwardly. At this point, the main ribs 8 are pivotally moved outwardly of the shaft with the connecting points of said ribs 8 with upper links 7 serving as a fulcrum, leaving the upper and auxiliary links 7 and 13 relatively stationary while only the lower links 3 will move. The middle ferrule 5 will not move with respect to the shaft 1 while only the lower ferrule 2 will move upwardly. This allows the main ribs 8 to open smoothly.

When the cylindrical tubular body 4a with the at tached lower ferrule 2, is moved upwardly, the cylindrical tubular body 5a is free to slide thereon. Thus, the opening position of the main ribs 8 will change depending on the position of the middle ferrule 5. Therefore, in case the movement of the main ribs 8 is interrupted by some obstacle and the lower ferrule 2 is nevertheless moved upwardly, the middle ferrule 5 will move downwardly on the cylindrical tubular body 4a. This will cause the lower and upper links 3 and 7 to move in a manner to pivot the auxiliary links 13 about where they are connected to the main ribs 8 thereby preventing damage to the main ribs 8.

When the lower ferrule 2 is further moved upwardly and the lower edge of the cylindrical tubular body 4a rides above the detent 17, the upper edge 6 of the cylindrical tubular body becomes located immediately below the upper ferrule 11. The umbrella then assumes the fully open position with the main ribs positively held by the upper and lower links 7 and 3 which extend outwardly of the shaft 1. At his point, the upper links 7 are positively supported by the auxiliary links 13 connecting the upper links with the upper ferrule 11 at a point midway the ends of the upper links 7. This arrangement permits the umbrella to be maintained in a considerably positive and safe condition, unless great external forces are applied on the main ribs.

To close the umbrella, the detent 17 is depressed manually to disengage the lower portion of the cylindrical tubular body 4a. The steps as described above are then followed in the reverse order. During the closing operation, the movement of the connecting joints of the upper links 7 and the auxiliary links 13 will pull the threads 16 downwardly as these threads 16 are secured at one end to the eyelets 12. The result will be that the cover 14 is pulled inwardly of the umbrella, since the threads 16 are secured at the other end to the cover. This permits the portions of the cover which extends between the root portions of the main ribs and the cap 15 to be automatically folded, thereby facilitating the folding operation of the cover considerably, when the umbrella is closed.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella construction comprising:

a shaft;

an upper ferrule secured to the top of said shaft;

a plurality of main ribs each terminating short of said shaft and free from direct connection therewith;

a canopy attached to said upper ferrule and to said plurality of main ribs; l

a slideable member, slideably mounted on said shaft;

a middle ferrule slidably mounted relative to said slidable member;

a lower ferrule fixedly secured to said slideable member at a first portion thereof, said middle ferrule being mounted at a second portion of said slideable member;

a plurality of lower links, each pivotally connected at one end to said lower ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs;

a plurality of upper links, each pivotally connected at one end to said middle ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs; and

a plurality of auxiliary links, each pivotally connected at one end to said upper ferrule and at the other end to an upper link at a point intermediate the ends of said upper links.

2. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower links and said upper links are substantially parallel to each other, both in the open and closed positions.

3. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower links and said upper links are substantially perpendicular to the shaft when the umbrella is in the fully open position.

4. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is collapsible.

5. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 which additionally comprises a spring-biased detent mounted in said shaft to hold said lower ferrule when said umbrella is fully open.

6. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein points on said cover adjacent to the connecting points of said upper links with said auxiliary links when said umbrella is in said fully open position are connected by threads with said connection points.

7. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said main ribs are adfixed along the inside of said canopy and extend from the periphery thereof radially inward to a point substantially short of the center of said canopy.

8. The umbrella construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said slideable member further includes means for confining the movement of said middle ferrule along said slideable member between said lower ferrule and a second location on said slideable member.

9. The umbrella construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said confining means includes a protruding portion on said slideable member and extending therefrom to act as a stop member for said slideable middle ferrule.

10. In an umbrella of the type which includes a shaft, an upper ferrule secured to an upper portion of said shaft, and a plurality of main ribs which terminate short of said shaft and are free from direct connection therewith, the combination of a slideable member slideably mounted relative to said shaft;

a lower ferrule fixedly secured to said slideable member at a first location thereon;

a middle ferrule slideably mounted relative to said slideable member; and

linking means linking said upper ferrule, said middle ferrule, said lower ferrule and said main ribs in both the opened and closed position of the umbrella and being capable of permitting the opening and closing of said umbrellal 11. The umbrella construction set forth in claim 10 wherein said slideable member further includes means for confining the movement of said middle ferrule along said slideable member between said lower ferrule and a second location on said slideable member.

12. The umbrella construction as set forth in claim 1 1 wherein said confining means includes a protruding portion on said slideable member and extending therefrom to act as a stop member for said slideable middle ferrule.

13. An umbrella construction comprising:

a shaft;

an upper ferrule secured to the top of said shaft;

a plurality of main ribs each terminating short of said shaft and free from direct connection therewith;

a canopy attached to said upper ferrule and to said plurality of main ribs;

a cylindrical tubular member slideably mounted with respect to said shaft;

a middle ferrule slideably mounted on said cylindrical tubular member;

a lower ferrule fixedly secured on said cylindrical tubular member;

a plurality of lower links, each pivotally connected at one end to said lower ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs;

a plurality of upper links, each pivotally connected at one end to said middle ferrule and pivotally connected 'at the other end to one of said main ribs; and

a plurality of auxiliary links, each pivotally connected at one end to said upper ferrule and at the other end to an upper link at a point intermediate the ends of said upper link. 

1. An umbrella construction comprising: a shaft; an upper ferrule secured to the top of said shaft; a plurality of main ribs each terminating short of said shaft and free from direct connection therewith; a canopy attached to said upper ferrule and to said plurality of main ribs; a slideable member, slideably mounted on said shaft; a middle ferrule slidably mounted relative to said slidable member; a lower ferrule fixedly secured to said slideable member at a first portion thereof, said middle ferrule being mounted at a second portion of said slideable member; a plurality of lower links, each pivotally connected at one end to said lower ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs; a plurality of upper links, each pivotally connected at one end to said middle ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs; and a plurality of auxiliary links, each pivotally connected at one end to said upper ferrule and at the other end to an upper link at a point intermediate the ends of said upper links.
 2. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said lower links and said upper links are substantially parallel to each other, both in the open and closed positions.
 3. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 2 wherein said lower links and said upper links are substantially perpendicular to the shaft when the umbrella is in the fully open position.
 4. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft is collapsible.
 5. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 which additionally comprises a spring-biased detent mounted in said shaft to hold said lOwer ferrule when said umbrella is fully open.
 6. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein points on said cover adjacent to the connecting points of said upper links with said auxiliary links when said umbrella is in said fully open position are connected by threads with said connection points.
 7. An umbrella construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said main ribs are adfixed along the inside of said canopy and extend from the periphery thereof radially inward to a point substantially short of the center of said canopy.
 8. The umbrella construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said slideable member further includes means for confining the movement of said middle ferrule along said slideable member between said lower ferrule and a second location on said slideable member.
 9. The umbrella construction as set forth in claim 8 wherein said confining means includes a protruding portion on said slideable member and extending therefrom to act as a stop member for said slideable middle ferrule.
 10. In an umbrella of the type which includes a shaft, an upper ferrule secured to an upper portion of said shaft, and a plurality of main ribs which terminate short of said shaft and are free from direct connection therewith, the combination of a slideable member slideably mounted relative to said shaft; a lower ferrule fixedly secured to said slideable member at a first location thereon; a middle ferrule slideably mounted relative to said slideable member; and linking means linking said upper ferrule, said middle ferrule, said lower ferrule and said main ribs in both the opened and closed position of the umbrella and being capable of permitting the opening and closing of said umbrella.
 11. The umbrella construction set forth in claim 10 wherein said slideable member further includes means for confining the movement of said middle ferrule along said slideable member between said lower ferrule and a second location on said slideable member.
 12. The umbrella construction as set forth in claim 11 wherein said confining means includes a protruding portion on said slideable member and extending therefrom to act as a stop member for said slideable middle ferrule.
 13. An umbrella construction comprising: a shaft; an upper ferrule secured to the top of said shaft; a plurality of main ribs each terminating short of said shaft and free from direct connection therewith; a canopy attached to said upper ferrule and to said plurality of main ribs; a cylindrical tubular member slideably mounted with respect to said shaft; a middle ferrule slideably mounted on said cylindrical tubular member; a lower ferrule fixedly secured on said cylindrical tubular member; a plurality of lower links, each pivotally connected at one end to said lower ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs; a plurality of upper links, each pivotally connected at one end to said middle ferrule and pivotally connected at the other end to one of said main ribs; and a plurality of auxiliary links, each pivotally connected at one end to said upper ferrule and at the other end to an upper link at a point intermediate the ends of said upper link. 